Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida's new Brevard County warehouse near Melbourne Airport turned one year old in February 2026. The facility has already boosted meal distribution by 37% compared to 2020, according to the nonprofit's latest report. The warehouse now serves 76 community partners across the region, including food pantries, shelters and churches.
The food bank distributed enough food for 5.9 million meals in 2025, up from 4.3 million in 2020. Fresh produce distribution surged 400% during the same period. Executive director Sarah Mitchell called the growth 'a direct result of the expanded space and our network of volunteers.'
'We're seeing more working families come through our doors for the first time,' Mitchell said. 'People are surprised to learn that hunger affects so many who have full-time jobs.' The food bank reported a 200% increase in requests from households earning above $30,000 annually.
The warehouse's 120,000-square-foot space allows for faster sorting and distribution. Volunteers process 150,000 pounds of food daily, a rate triple what the old facility could handle. The expansion also cut delivery times to local partners by 40%, according to logistics manager Tom Nguyen.
Second Harvest says the increased capacity has helped meet demand from 12 new feeding sites in Brevard County. The organization plans to expand again in 2027, with a focus on refrigerated storage for perishable items. 'We're just getting started,' Mitchell said. 'The need is growing faster than we anticipated.'